Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition: Admiral Sir George Cockburn 1772-1853 (Studies in Maritime History)

Morriss, Roger

ISBN 10: 157003253X / ISBN 13: 9781570032530

Published by University of South Carolina Press, 1998

With dustjacket. Ink name, city and date of previous owner on front flyleaf. No writing or highlighting other than that. Pictures available. Stored in a clean smoke free house. Seller Inventory # 50130050

Synopsis:

How one British admiral changed the course of naval history

Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition documents the long and varied career of Admiral Sir George Cockburn, who presided over much of the British Navy's transition from sail to steam while maintaining the interests and professionalism of the officer corps.

Cockburn's life and times encompassed service under Admiral Horatio Nelson during the French Revolutionary War; diplomacy and combined operations during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812 with the United States; and administrative, political, and technological changes during the first half of the nineteenth century.

Cockburn emerged from the Napoleonic Wars as the best-known British admiral, renowned for his part in the attack on Washington in 1814 and for escorting Napoleon to St. Helena. But his greatest impact was from 1818 to 1846 at the Admiralty Office, where he steered the British Navy through some of the most disruptive political and technological changes it has ever faced.

Cockburn's attitude towards the development of more seaworthy sailing warships and his key role in the introduction of the screw propeller are also examined―inovations that coincided with the decline of flogging, impressment, and personal patronage in the management of the British Navy.

Though Cockburn was often regarded as a reactionary, Roger Morriss reveals the liberalism that enlightened his policies in the Navy. By providing unique insight into a highly influential figure and into the many facets of admiralty administration, this book makes a valuable contribution to naval history.

About the Author:

Roger Morriss was a curator at the National Maritime Museum in London until 1995. He is an honorary research fellow at the University of Exeter Centre for Maritime Studies and in the history department of University College London.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Cockburn and the British Navy in Transition:...
Publisher: University of South Carolina Press
Publication Date: 1998
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Good
Edition: 1st Edition.
Book Type: Book